The river tore through the land like a hungry worm, opening its way to the ocean. Along the river bank was the army camp, the war tents and gathering tents were well kept, but empty. Not a soul was to be found in the camp, even the humble camp followers were gone. The men inhabiting the camp stood on a small hill nearby, circling the base of the hill while a man at the top read a letter. «The Senate and the people of Rome turn to you, Gaius Julius, and to the men at your service. The Senate ends your service as governor of Gaul and demands that you return to Rome immediately. We do not consider it necessary to remind you of Roman law. If a general returns to the Roman Republic accompanied by a standing army, he and his men are traitors and will be treated as such. Senātus Populusque Rōmānus. The man looked up from the letter and stared into the eyes of every soldier, farmer and Roman present. Then he headed towards the bank of the Rubicon, mounted his horse; who stood there, and looked back at the army. The historian Suetonius writes: "Reaching his cohorts at the Rubicon River, which was the border of his province, he stopped a while and, realizing the step he was taking, turned to those around him and said: 'Also we can stand back; but once he crossed that little bridge, the whole matter is with the sword. While he was in doubt, he was given this sign. Suddenly there appeared a being of wonderful stature and beauty, who sat and played on a reed and when not only the shepherds ran to listen to him, but many other soldiers left their posts, and among them some trumpeters, the apparition snatched a trumpet from one of them, rushed to the river and sounded the war note with a mighty blas... in the center of the map.... ..nation of Italy.” 23 April 2014 .• Milani-Santarpia, Giovanni “Ancient Roman inventions”. 23 April 2014 .• “The unique history of Rome”. 24 April 2014 • “Chronology of the Roman Empire”. The Roman Empire”. 24 April 2014• Andrea Thompson. “The true population of ancient Rome revealed”. 24 April 2014• “Ancient Roman sites”. 24 April 2014• Evan Andrews “8 reasons why Rome fell”. April 23. 2014